Car Seat Safety Tips from Safety 1st {Giveaway} #childpassengersafety

Did you know that Sept 15-21 is Child Passenger Safety Week? This is a great time to refresh your memory and share proper car seat safety information with everyone you know!

Car crashes are the leading cause of death for children age 1 through 12 years old. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the goal of Child Passenger Safety week is to make sure all parents and caregivers are properly securing their children (ages 0-12) in the best car restraint (rear-facing, forward-facing, booster, seat belt) for their age and size.

Safety 1st Elite 80 3-in-1 car seat
The Elite 80 works in rear-facing mode for babies up to 40 pounds, then converts to forward-facing with harness, but features an extended weight range to keep children safely in harness all the way to 80 pounds. In it’s 3rd mode, the Elite 80 goes beyond the traditional convertible seat to convert into a belt-positioning booster car seat for children up to 100 pounds. Additionally Air Protect + combines the advanced protection of our Air Protect® cushion system with patented GCell HX™ foam designed with hexagonal shapes for 100% full body production.

Safety 1st Advance 70 Air+
This convertible car seat was inspired by race car drivers. Air Protect+ combines Safety 1st Air Protect® Technology with GCell HX™ – hexagonal rebounding foam used in the body of the car seat to protect the child from the multiple hits that occur in crashes. Coupled with this is the placement of Air Protect® Technology which takes crash forces away from a child’s head. This technology was developed in partnership with racecar engineers at Bald Spot Sports and INDY Car Driver Scott Dixon to better understand the energy dynamics a high performance driver faces in the event of a crash.

Safety 1st BoostAPak Belt-Positioning Booster Car SeatThe BoostAPak is designed to help keep kids in boosters longer, as it’s often hard to get an older child to stay in his or her booster seat. This booster seat also doubles as a backpack! For children 4 to 7 years old, booster seats reduce injury risk by 59% compared to seat belts alone. (Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia). Additionally, the AAP recommends children ride in boosters until the age of 12 or 57 inches; but only 13% of children 54-56 inches tall ride on one (NHTSA).

Importance of Rear Facing

In March of 2011 the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) updated their car seat recommendations advising that children should remain rear facing until the age of two, or until they reach the maximum height and weight requirements allowed by their car seat. According to a study in the Journal of Injury Prevention children under the age of two are 75% less likely to die or be severely injured in the event of a car crash if they are rear facing. When a child is rear facing their head, neck and spine are better supported and in the event of an accident, crash forces are distributed over the child’s entire body.

Installation

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Association, 75% of car seats are installed incorrectly. Every car and car seat has different requirements for the safest installation so before you get started it is important to read both the car seat and car manual.

Typically the center rear seat is the safest place for a car seat, and never install a car seat in the front seat. If your car does not have a latch connector for the middle seat, you can use the middle seat belt to properly secure the base. When installing, make sure the base of the car seat moves no more than an inch from side to side. An easy way to test this is to hold at the belt path.

New parents and grandparents are encouraged to attend a car seat check before the baby is born. However, don’t just rely on the experts. You’re likely going to be taking the car seat out and installing it somewhere else at some point, so make sure you’re comfortable with the process too.

Car Seat Expiration

Never use used or old car seats. Car seats do have an expiration date and it is to understand the risks associated with using an expired or old car seat. The reason for an expiration date is because plastic can warp and materials can fray, which can make car seats less safe to use. Car seat technology and state and federal car seat regulations change. A car seat deemed safe more than six years ago may no longer meet federal testing regulations. Important warning labels may wear out and instruction books may get lost, which can lead to improper use of the car seat.

In honor of this special week, Safety 1st is generously giving away one of the seats above to a lucky Eco Baby Mama Drama reader! Keep an eye out for my upcoming review of the Advance 70 Air+! Enter below for your chance to win, good luck!

Comments

I would love to try the Safety 1st Elite 80 3-in-1 car seat. I think the best feature is that you can keep your child harnessed to 80lbs, but even after that you can use it as your booster for the seat belt! Sounds like a great money saver to me.

I like the Safety 1st Elite 80 3-in-1 car seat and the feature is Additionally Air Protect + combines the advanced protection of our Air Protect® cushion system with patented GCell HX™ foam designed with hexagonal shapes for 100% full body production

I like the Complete Air 70 Convertible Car Seat in Sea Breeze the best because of the Air Protect Advanced Side Impact Protection. I like how this car seat reduces the impact through the release of air.

I really like the Complete Air 70 Convertible Car Seat in Sea Breeze and what I like most about it is the high upper weight limit while forward facing in a 5 point harness (70lbs!) Also, I would love to keep my toddler rear facing for as long as possible so it’s perfect that they can stay that way til their 40 lbs as well.

I love the Elite 80 Air + 3-in-1 Car Seat – Elian because it can be used all the way upto 80lbs. Also the rear-facing mode for babies up to 40 pounds! I love that this is an all-time one carseat that one would every need!

I like the Safety 1st Elite 80 3-in-1 car seat because it has 100% full body protection, can be forward and rear facing and the cup holders are a neat feature! I’m expecting my first baby this fall, thanks for the opportunity.

I like the Safety 1st Advance 70 Air+. I like the fact that it offers protection for multi-hits in the event of an accident. It’s pretty neat that they use race car technology when designing it. Sounds really safe!

I love the versatility of the Elite 80 – it can be front-facing, rear-facing, and a booster seat. It would be great for bringing our baby home from the hospital right up to when our baby doesn’t need a seat!

I like the Elite 80 3-in-1. I love that it converts into a belt-positioning booster car seat for children up to 100 pounds
Read more at http://ecobabymamadrama.com/2013/09/car-seat-safety-tips-safety-1st-childpassengersafety.html#Jf8LrvLwtMbh1veM.99

Safety 1st Elite 80 3-in-1 car seat
I would love it because of this! From infant to big kid all in one carseat?! How much more wonderful could it get! Elite 80 works in rear-facing mode for babies up to 40 pounds, then converts to forward-facing with harness, but features an extended weight range to keep children safely in harness all the way to 80 pounds. In it’s 3rd mode, the Elite 80 goes beyond the traditional convertible seat to convert into a belt-positioning booster car seat for children up to 100 pounds.

I like the Advance 70 Air + Convertible Car Seat – Tyson. My favorite feature is the 4 position recline so it can fit different cars. My husband has an SUV and I have a sedan so our seats are shaped differently and the recline would ensure the best fit in each car.

Q: which Safety 1st car seat you like best and what feature you love about your chosen car seat.
I chose the Safety 1st BoostAPak Belt-Positioning Booster Car Seat —
I chose this one because I have a very tall 1 year old, who is the size of a 2 year old.
and since the BoostAPak is designed to help keep kids in boosters longer, as it’s often hard to get an older child to stay in his or her booster seat. This booster seat also doubles as a backpack!
This means a lot to me as a Mom… since for children 4 to 7 years old, booster seats reduce injury risk by 59% compared to seat belts alone. (Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia). Additionally, the AAP recommends children ride in boosters until the age of 12 or 57 inches; but only 13% of children 54-56 inches tall ride on one (NHTSA).
So that pretty much is a deal maker for me.
Thanks so much for this opportunity!!

I like the Advance 70 Air + Convertible Car Seat in Grey/Violet best!
My favorite feature is the Air Protect® advanced cushion system that protects your child’s head, very important!
Thanks for the giveaway

I would choose the New Elite 80 Air 3 in 1 car seat . I love that it works up to 80 lb , the full body side impact protection, the color coded belt paths and installation labels to make it easier to install properly. Thanks for the chance to win.